Stoker



March 9, 1937.

H. E. LIPPERT STOKER Filed Oct 24, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 27 26 25 A? HMarch 9, 1937. H. E. LIPPERT STOKER Filed Oct, 24, 19:53

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR March 9, 1937. E. LIPPERT 2,073,213

STUKEB Filed Oct. 24;1955 4 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 9, 1937. H. E.LIPPERT 5 Sheets-SheetA S TOKER i /IIIIIIII/I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIFiled Oct. 24, 1953 19ml], II II V Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to stokers, and particularly to stokers of theclass which transfer fuel from a source of supply and deliver it to anopening in a wall of a firebox from which opening it 5 is scattered inaerial paths to the firebed on the grates.

In stokers of the foregoing character, it is customary to provide athroat, forwardly extending branch or mouth portion at the discharge ordelivery end thereof. The direction of movement of the fuel through thestoker is usually changed at this mouth portion immediately before it isdelivered to the scattering or distributing means. In practice, anindentation or recess is provided in the bottom of the mouth portion,and a distributor head is fitted within this recess to form a riifie inthe mouth portion over which the fuel passes. A distributor plate,located forwardly of the distributor head, is attached to the mouth 20portion, in some instances, by fastening means in contact with fuelmoving through the stoker. The provision of the above mentioned recessin the mouth portion necessitates machining several surfaces on thestoker part forming or containing the mouth portion and several surfaceson the distributor head, to assure a close fit of these parts and thusprevent leakage of fuel. Renewal of a distributor plate secured to thestoker by fastening means in contact with the fuel is a dirty task,since it requires removal of the fuel from a part of the stoker conduitin order that the fastening means be exposed.

Some of the objects of this invention are, to eliminate a riiile andrecess in the bottom of the mouth portion, mount a distributor headexteriorly of the mouth portion upon and in contact with a singlestraight wall, and attach a distributor plate to the stoker adjacent thetop of the mouth portion; by which construction many 9 machiningoperations are eliminated, thus decreasing the cost of manufacture, andthe distributor head and plate can be readily and easily assembled anddismantled for repairs and replacement, since the fastening means forthese parts are accessible to facilitate the same. In accomplishing theforegoing advantages, it is another object to provide a structurewherein the distributor head extends through the distributor plate andrearward thereof, whereby pipe lines for delivering pressure fluid tothe distributor head can be secured in the bottom of the head.

Other objects are, to provide a new and improved stoker fueldistributor, and provide fuel distributing apparatus having simplifiedmeans for positively discharging fuel to the rear corners of thefirebox.

On the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a portion of alocomotive showing the invention applied thereto, with parts of theinvention shown in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the rear end of a locomotive and theforward end of a tender having the improved stoker in position thereon,with parts of the stoker broken away to illustrate the drive mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the discharge end of thestoker and a portion of the locomotive backhead,

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 44 of Fig. 3, with apart of the stoker fuel distributing apparatus broken away,

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification to the discharge end of the stoker,

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse section taken on line 66 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken online 1-! of Fig. 4,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 6, with a partbroken away,

Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 8 and shows modified fueldistributing apparatus, I

Fig. 10 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3 and illustrates anadjustable fuel directing rib in the discharge end of the stoker,

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section similar to Fig. 4 showing anothermodified form of fuel distributing apparatus,

Fig. 12 illustrates another modification to the discharge end of thestoker, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view disclosing still another modified form ofthe stoker.

Like numerals and reference characters in the various figures on thedrawings indicate corresponding elements or features of constructionherein referred to. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and8, the letter L designates a locomotive having a firebox ll providedwith grates l2, and a backhead or back Wall [3 having a firing openingI4 therein. A cab l5 has a floor or deck l6 slightly below the firingopening, and a frame I! supports the firebox and cab. A tender for thelocomotive is designated by the letter T (Fig. 2). shown and describedas installed in a locomotive and tender, it is to be understood that itsapplication is not limited thereto.

A horizontal conduit H,-composed of a trough While the invention isherein l8 and a tubular intermediate conduit section l9, communicateswith and opens forwardly into the lower end of a riser conduit,indicated as a whole by the letter R, through the rear wall, 20, of thelatter, the axes or centerlines of the conduits H and R being in thevertical central plane of the firing opening, the locomotive and thetender.

A portion of a water compartment, 2!, of the tender is separated fromthe remainder thereof by plates 22 to form a rectangularly shapedcompartment 23 which serves to house the trough I8. The trough which maybe rigidly secured to the tender in any desirable manner, opens upwardlyto receive fuel from a fuel bin or bunker (not shown) in the tender.

The intermediate conduit section I9 is connected at its rear end by aball and socket joint 24 to the forward end of the trough, and itsforward end is slidably mounted in a ball 25 secured in a socket 26carried by the riser conduit, whereby the intermediate conduit sectioncan move universally with respect to both the trough and riser conduitto facilitate the flexibility between the locomotive and tender.

The riser conduit is arranged parallel to the backhead and secured atits upper and lower ends thereto. It comprises, generally speaking, abase casting 21, an elevator casing 28 mounted upon the base casting andextending above the cab deck, and a nozzle casing or hood member 29telescoped on the upper end of the elevator casing. The base casting 21is substantially L- shaped forming an elbow which connects theintermediate conduit section 19 with the elevator casing 28. A laterallyextending arm 30 on each side of the base casting rests upon and isfixed to a bracket 3| which in turn is rigidly secured to the locomotivebackhead. The base casting may be further supported upon the frame ofthe locomotive by means of an upright plate 32.

The riser conduit hood member 29 comprises parallel side walls 33 spacedapart a distance equal to the diameter of the elevator casing, a curvedrear wall 34 connecting the side walls, an L-shaped flange 35 extendingoutwardly from each of the side walls and having their longer legs 36disposed in a transverse plane and their shorter legs 31 extendingforwardly toward the backhead, a top wall 38 composed of a forwardhorizontal flat section 39 and a rearward flat section 40 inclinedupwardly and forwardly toward the firing opening, a lower cylindricalportion 4| having an annular recess 42 opening downwardly, and a wall 43extending forwardly from the cylindrical portion 4| and forming with theside walls 33 and the section 39 of the top wall, a mouth portion 44opening forwardly into the lower portion of the firing opening [4. Afiredoor 49 closes the upper portion of the firing opening.

The upper end of the elevator casing is adapted to be inserted looselywithin the recess 42 in the hood member. The cylindrical portion 4| isprovided with a plurality of lugs 45 having threaded holes into whichstuds 46 are secured. These studs extend through holes in lugs 41 on theelevator casing, which holes are made to align, respectively, with thethreaded holes in lugs 45. The depth of recess 42 is slightly less thanthe distance from the top edge of the elevator casing to the lugs 41,and when the nuts 48 are turned on the studs to fasten the elevatorcasing to the hood member, the top edge of the elevator casing willcontact with the end of the recess 42, lugs 45 and 41 remaining spacedfrom each other. By this arrangement it is necessary to machine only thetop edge of the elevator casing and the. end of the recess, and it isapparent that a tight seal against leakage of fuel into the locomotivecab can thus be made between these two surfaces of relatively smallarea.

The top of the hood member 29 is detachable to permit removal of ahelical fuel transfer screw 50 from the riser conduit, when this screwis to be repaired or replaced by a new one. The curved rear wall, 34, ofthe hood member forms an upward continuation of the rear part of thelower cylindrical portion 4|; and the forward part of cylindricalportion 4| and wall 43 connect the parallel side walls 33. An angle iron5| at each side of the firing opening has one leg fixed to the backheadin any desirable manner, and the other leg rigidly secured to theadjacent L-shaped flange on the hood member. The wall 43, which formsthe bottomv of the mouth portion, projects forward of the front faces ofthe transverse legs, 36, of the attachment flanges 35, and is providedwith a depending relatively narrow flange 52 having a verticallydisposed straight front face on which a substantially bar-shapeddistributor head 53 exterior of the mouth portion is mounted.

The distributor head is arranged transversely of and is the same lengthas the width of the mouth portion 44. It consists of a top wall havingan upper surface 54 arranged in a horizontal plane passing through thefront top corner, 55, of the bottom of the mouth portion, a flat rearwall 56 in contact with the flange 52, a front wall 51 slightly offsetrearwardly at its lower portion, partition walls 58 for forming aplurality of chambers 59 in the distributor head, a bottom wall providedwith bosses 60 having threaded holes or apertures opening downwardlyinto which pipe lines 6| are secured, and a laterally projecting lug 62on each end of the head. The pipe lines 6| correspond in number to thenumber of chambers in the distributor head, and serve to deliver fluidunder pressure to the chambers from any preferred source. Jet openings63 are drilled in a horizontal row in the front wall, 51, of the head sothat at least one jet opening will communicate with each of chambers 59.The distributor head can be secured to or removed from the hood memberfrom a position outside the firebox and in the locomotive cab, asattachment bolts 54 which extend through the projections or lugs 62 onthe head also extend through the transverse legs, 36, of the flanges 35in order that nuts can be turned on the ends of these bolts which areexposed in the cab. The bolts 64 extend through flanges 35 adjacent thebottom of the mouth portion and the outer surfaces of the parallel sidewalls 33. By having the upper surface of the distributor head lie in ahorizontal plane through the front corner, 55, of the mouth portion, itis apparent that the head does not form a riffle over which the fuelpasses, and since the distributor head is located exteriorly of themouth portion it is necessary to machine only one straight surface oneach of the head and hood members to provide a close fit between theseparts.

Extending forwardly through the firing opening from a point immedatelybeneath the jet openings 63 is a distributor plate 65 having at the rearthereof and on each side an upstanding ear 66 containing a hole arrangedto align with holes in projections 61 located on the front surface oftransverse legs, 36, of flanges 35 in proximity to the top of theseflanges, the parallel side walls 33 and the mouth portion. A bolt ateach side' of the mouth portion extends through the hole in one of theears 66 and the hole in the adjacent projection 61 for hinging thedistributor plate to the hood member, and the overhanging weight of theforward end of the plate causes the rear edge 58 of the plate to buttagainst the front wall of the distributor head. It can be understoodthat either the distributor plate or head can be detached from the hoodmember without the necessity of detaching the other, and the fasteningmeans for the plate are located so that the latter can be readilyreplaced from a position in the comotive cab, merely upon opening thefiredoor. A continuation, 69, of each parallel side wall 33 may beprovided on the hood member to prevent fuel from falling off the sidesof the head 53.

The distributor plate consists of a broad central horizontal fiatportion 10 having a forward part cut away allowing fuel to fall onto thefirebox grates directly beneath the plate, and a depressed portion ll ateach side of the central portion, arranged to form channels whichgradually increase in depth from their rear ends to their front ends andalso turn laterally at their front ends. The jet openings at the ends ofthe row of jet openings in the head 53 are drilled to align with thechannels in the plate (Fig. 4) and also drilled in a manner to dischargea jet or blast of pressure fluid downwardly into the channels (Fig. 7),or stated in other words, the forwardly extended axes of the end jetopenings are inclined downwardly and intersect the plane of the topsurface of the distributor plate, whereby fuel will positively becarried into the channels and directed laterally to the rear corners ofthe fireboX. The distributor plate 65 is recessed at its rear end to fitaround the front and sides of the distributor head 53.

The top front ledge, 86, of the distributor head, over which the fuelfalls onto the plate 65, is parallel to the backhead. The distributorplate and mouth portion 44 extend equal distances on each side of thevertical median plane through the firing opening, and the axis ofelevator screw 50 is contained in this plane.

The helical fuel transfer screw 50 extends throughout the base castingand elevator casing, and a similar screw 12 is arranged within thehorizontal conduit H. The upper end of screw 50 preferably terminates ata point not above the bottom wall of the mouth portion and is free ofshaft bearings, and its lower end is attached to a stub shaft 13journaled in suitable bearings, including a bearing 14 integral with thebase casting and extending upwardly within the same.

The fuel transfer screws are driven by a double acting two cylindersteam operated engine 15 mounted on the locomotive frame apart from thestoker conduit and at one side thereof, and power transmissionmechanism. This mechanism comprises a short shaft 16 composed oftelescopic sections one of which is universally jointed to the crankshaft of the engine, gearing Tl operatively connecting shaft IS with thefront end of a relatively long shaft 18 extending from the locomotive tothe rear end of trough l8 on the tender, gearing 19 operativelyconnecting the rear end of shaft 18 with the fuel transfer screw 12, andgearing 80 operatively connecting the elevator screw with the shaft 18at a point intermediate gearing 11 and gearing l9. Gearing includes aworm and a worm gear 8|, the worm gear being fixed on the stub shaftsecured to the elevator screw 50. The twosets of gearing 11 and 80 areenclosed in a gear box 82 attachedto the'underside of thebase casting.Short shaft lfiis disposed longitudinally of the locomotive, and theshaft 18 extends longitudinally of both the 1000- The fuel is elevatedin the riser conduit by the elevator screw and the upwardly advancingcolumn of fuel delivered from the upper end of the screw is flattenedand directed in a mass of uniform height to the ledge 86 by theinclined. section, 40, of the top wall of the hood member, from whichledge it drops onto the distributor plate 65 and is discharged to allparts of the firebed by blasts of pressure fluid issuing from jetopenings 63. By referring'to Fig. 3 it can be understood that as theupwardly advancing fuel rises in the hood member its upward movement isobstructed by the inclined 'wall 40 and the fuel is directed forwardlytoward the distributor plate through the mouth portion 44. Thefrictional resistance to the movement of fuel through the mouth portionon each side of the central vertical plane of the firing opening issubstantially the same.

In some instances, as when the elevator screw extends above the bottomwall of the mouth portion, fuel may be delivered unevenly from the upperend of the screw to the distributorplate. To remedy such a condition thetop wall of the hood member may be formed or provided with a dependingfuel directing rib 8'! (Fig. 5) located centrally of the top wall 95 toprevent more fuel being discharged to one side of the plate than theother. Fig. 10 illustrates a fuel directing rib 88 arranged in the hoodmember adjacent the top wall 96 thereof. The rib 88 has a shaft 91pivoted centrally of and extending through the top wall. A lever 89 isattached to the rib shaft for manually adjusting the position of therib. In Fig. 11 an adjustable fuel directing rib 90 is shown in thefiring opening pivoted to the distributor 'plate 98 at each side of thedistributor head 99. If preferred, a fuel directing rib 9| may be formedon the bottom wall I00 of the mouth portion centrally thereof, asillustrated in Fig. 12.

In Fig, 9 the distributor head I0! and plate I02 are shown as beingconstructed so that parts 92 and 93, respectively, thereof will extendexteriorly of the firebox and into the locomotive cab, whereby the headand plate can each be attached to the surface of the hood member exposedin the cab. Fig. 13 discloses a hood member I03 having a central part,94, of the bottom wall of the mouth portion substantially narrowed,permitting the elevator casing to be located close to the backhead.

I claim:

1. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stokermember provided with a mouth' portion in communication with saidopening; fuel distributing apparatus com" prising a bar-shapeddistributor head mounted at the bottom of the mouth portion, said headhaving-a projection on each end thereof, means engaging said projectionsfor attaching the head to said member, the'top surface of said headforming a continuation of the bottom inside surface of the mouthportion, and a distributor plate hinged to said member adjacent the topof the mouth portion and having its rear edge butted against the frontof said head, the front wall of said head having jet openings thereinfor discharging pressure fluid across said plate and being offset belowthe jet openings to receive the rear edge of said plate.

2. In combination with a locomotive provided with a cab, a fireboxhaving a firing opening, and a stoker fuel delivery member provided witha mouth portion in communication with the firing opening; fueldistributing apparatus comprising a distributor head'mounted at thebottom of said mouth portion, said head having a projection on each endthereof and a series of jet openings for the emission of pressure fluid,means for delivering pressure fluid to said head, a distributor plateextending forwardly from said head and provided with an upstanding earon its rear end at each side of the head, said series of jet openingsbeing arranged to discharge pressure fluid across said plate, andseparate means for fastening the head and the plate to said member, thefastening means for the head engaging said projections and the fasteningmeans for the plate engaging said ears, at least one of the fasteningmeans being exterior of the path of the fuel and arranged whereby thepart fastened thereby can be manually attached to or removed from saidmember independently of the other part and from a position in the cab.

3. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stokermember provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firingopening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a bar-shaped distributorhead mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, said head having aprojection on each end thereof and a series of jet openings for theemission of pressure fluid, means for delivering pressure fluid to saidhead, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head andprovided with an upstanding ear on its rear end at each side of thehead, said series of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressurefluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head andthe plate to said member, the fastening means for the head engaging saidprojections and the fastening means for the plate engaging said ears.

4. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stokermember provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firingopening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a chambered bar-shapeddistributor head mounted at the bottom of said mouth portion and beingsubstantially the same length as the width of the mouth portion, saidhead having a projection on each end thereof, a series of jet openingsfor the emission of pressure fluid and an aperture opening downwardlyfrom a chamber therein for the admission of pressure fluid, adistributor plate extending forwardly from said head and provided withan upstanding ear on its rear end at each side of the head, said seriesof jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid across saidplate, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to saidmember, and means engaging said ears for attaching the plate to saidmember above said head.

5. In a stoker, in combination with a locomotive having a cab and afirebox having a firing opening, a riser conduit provided at its upperend with a mouth portion communicating with said opening and havingoutwardly extending flanges for attachment of said conduit to thefirebox, a distributor head at the bottom of the mouth portion rigidlysecured to said conduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly fromsaid head and attached to said conduit adjacent the top of the mouthportion, said head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure.

fluid across said plate, and separate means for fastening the head andplate to the conduit, each of the fastening means being exterior of thepath of the fuel and arranged whereby the head and plate can be manuallysecured to or removed from the conduit independently of each other andfrom a position in the cab, and the fastening means for the headextending through said flanges.

6. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, ariser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portioncommunicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mountedon said conduit at the bottom of the mouth portion, said head having aprojection on each end thereof, means engaging said projections forattaching the head to said conduit, and a distributor plate hinged tosaid conduit and extending forwardly from said head, the front wall ofsaid head having jet openings therein for discharging pressure fluidacross said plate and being offset below the jet openings to receive therear edge of said plate, and said plate being recessed at its rear endto fit around said head.

7. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, ariser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portioncommunicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mountedat the bottom of the mouth portion and having a projection on each endthereof, means engaging said projections for attaching the head to saidconduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head into thefiring opening, said head having jet openings therein for dischargingpressure fluid across said plate, an upstanding ear on the rear end ofsaid plate at each side of the head, said plate being recessed to fitaround the head and hinged to said conduit at the top of the mouthportion by means engaging said ears.

8. In a stoker, in combination with a firebox having a firing opening, ariser conduit provided at its upper end with a mouth portioncommunicating with said opening, a bar-shaped distributor head mountedat the bottom of the mouth portion and having a projection on each endthereof, means engaging said projections for attaching said head to saidconduit, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head into thefiring opening, said head having jet openings therein for dischargingpressure fluid across said late, an upstanding ear on the rear end ofsaid plate at each side of the head, said plate being recessed to fitaround the head and hinged to said conduit at the top of the mouthportion by means engaging said ears, whereby the overhanging weight ofsaid plate causes its rear edge to butt against the front wall of saidhead and the plate is held to said front wall by its own weight.

9. In combination with a firebox having a firing opening, and a stokermember provided with a mouth portion in communication with the firingopening; fuel distributing apparatus comprising a distributor headmounted at the bottom of said mouth portion, said head having aprojection on each end thereof and a series of jet openings for theemission of pressure fluid, means for delivering pressure fluid to saidhead, a distributor plate extending forwardly from said head andprovided with an ear on its rear end at each side of the head, saidseries of jet openings being arranged to discharge pressure fluid acrosssaid plate, and separate means for fastening the head and the plate tosaid member whereby the head and plate can be manually secured to orremoved from said member independently of each other, the fasteningmeans for the head engaging said projections, and the fastening meansfor said plate engaging said ears for hinging the plate to said member.

HENRY E. LIPPERT.

